After criticizing the UFC’s uniform deal with Reebok, Fabricio Werdum is reporting that he’s lost his commentating job with the promotion.

Earlier in the week, Werdum posted the image and comments below. The translation reads ”I’m not generic,… Read More

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Fabricio Werdum (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

After criticizing the UFC’s uniform deal with Reebok, Fabricio Werdum is reporting that he’s lost his commentating job with the promotion.

Earlier in the week, Werdum posted the image and comments below. The translation reads ”I’m not generic, I’m Nike since childhood! #suck #myballs #reebok.”, according to a report from MMA Fighting.com.

Stipe Miocic is the UFC’s new heavyweight champ, thanks to a big right hand that put Fabricio Werdum away in the opening round of their UFC 198 headliner.

The dangerous, heavy handed fighter caught Werdum flush to the jaw with a punch, as the latter charged into attack. After the championship win, Miocic had this to say about what led to the victory (quote via FOX Sports 1 press release):

“He’s a lot quicker than I thought. I was hitting him with some shots. He started chasing me and I hit him with the right hand and he didn’t like it very much. He started chasing me and I caught him with a good right hand. I have power.”

“I was working on the checks all camp. He kicks hard. I hit him with the first right hand, and I thought I hurt him and he started chasing me and knew I was going to get it.”

With the win, Miocic extended his winning streak to three. Although Werdum is calling for an immediate rematch with the new champ, most expect that the UFC will book Alistair Overeem to face Miocic next.

After getting knocked out by Stipe Miocic in less than three minutes at UFC 198, Fabricio Werdum is calling for an immediate rematch with the new heavyweight champ.

Werdum was KO’d by a Miocic right hand, as the Brazilian fighter charged in at the challenger. The bout marked the first time Werdum had fought since last June, when he submitted Cain Velasquez to become champ.

After the bout, Werdum relayed the following, while reflecting on the devastating defeat (quote via FOX Sports 1 press release):

“He beat me for sure. He knocked me out. I think it’s best to have a rematch. I’ve got a six-fight win streak. I’m 100 percent great. I don’t have any injuries. He just landed one punch.”

“A little more calm. To have five rounds. I think I’m a more complete fighter. The rematch? Soon. Maybe UFC 200.”

Werdum had won six straight fights heading into the contest. Miocic has won three in a row.

Fabricio Werdum’s first title defense was a short and disastrous one tonight at UFC 198, as the heavyweight was knocked out by Stipe Miocic in the opening round.

Several minutes into the main event, Miocic caught Werdum flush to the jaw with a right hook as he charged in, and that was that. Werdum was fighting for the first time since he submitted Cain Velasquez last June to become champion.

In the co-headliner, “Jacare” Souza took Vitor Belfor to the floor not long into their bout, and bloodied the middleweight contender with punches. Belfort managed to get back to his feet, but surprisingly elected to drop back to his back once again, where Souza proceeded to finish the fight with follow up strikes.

Here are the results from UFC 198, which took place in Curitiba, Brazil.

UFC 198 will feature the first title defense of Fabricio Werdum, as the heavyweight champion will take on rising contender, Stipe Miocic. In Werdum, Miocic will face one of the top submission artists in all of MMA,… Read More

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Stipe Miocic (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

UFC 198 will feature the first title defense of Fabricio Werdum, as the heavyweight champion will take on rising contender, Stipe Miocic. In Werdum, Miocic will face one of the top submission artists in all of MMA, who has also developed a comprehensive and dangerous striking game. In Miocic, the champion will battle an athletic wrestler, who also has fast and heavy hands.

In the latest edition of “UFC Tonight“, the light-heavyweight champ Cormier was asked to weigh-in on Saturday’s main event. Here is some of what “DC” had to say (quote via FOX Sports 1 press release):

“Stipe has got all the skills. He’s got great wrestling, boxing, cardio, and he’s a big guy who’s wanted this fight. But that pressure he applies can leave him in the Fabricio Werdum wheelhouse. The champion can do it all. He’s so long, he can reach and lock in a clinch behind the head, knee to the body or knee to the face, or take you down. He’s submitted some of the greatest heavyweights ever. This is Werdum’s jiu-jitsu vs. Stipe’s speed. Werdum will be a step behind, but that won’t be the determining factor in this fight.”

“We know the wrestling got him here, but his striking is what brought him to the top of the division,” Cormier added, while discussing the keys to a Miocic victory. “He needs to stick and move. He needs to use his boxing. He’s a very good boxer. He has fast, quick punches and combinations. But most important, his takedowns need to be smart. If he misses it, Werdum can pounce on him. He needs to take smart takedowns.”

Miocic’s title shot comes after he quickly stopped Andrei Arlovski in January. Werdum became champion last June, by submitting Cormier’s teammate, Cain Velasquez.

In recent years, Fabricio Werdum has shown that he’s become much more than just a ground specialist, but the UFC’s heavyweight champ says you could see him take Stipe Miocic down, Saturday.

Werdum will battle Miocic in the main event of UFC 198, which will be hosted by Curitiba, Brazil. In Miocic, Werdum will face an accomplished wrestler with an extremely dangerous, boxing pedigree.

Recently the champion appeared on “UFC Tonight“, and when Werdum was asked if he can take Miocic down, the Brazilian stated (quote via FOX Sports press release):

“Yes, my Muay Thai. He’s waiting. I’ve got a big surprise. Not just takedown him. Just fake, fake, I put him on the ground and finish him or knock him down.”

Werdum also had this to say, when asked if he sees similarities between Miocic and Cain Velasquez. Werdum submitted the latter last summer to become champ.

“Yes, I think the boxing and wrestling are similar. I don’t see Stipe on the ground. I want to see his back on the ground. I’m a black belt in wrestling.”

“Vai Calvalo” has won six straight fights now since Alistair Overeem decisioned Werdum in 2011. Miocic, meanwhile, is coming off a quick, stoppage win over Andrei Arlovski and is 4-1 in his last 5 bouts.

The UFC has booked another stadium show, as the promotion has announced that Fabricio Werdum will battle Stipe Miocic on May 14th, at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. The facility can hold over 40,000 people.

The UFC has booked another stadium show, as the promotion has announced that Fabricio Werdum will battle Stipe Miocic on May 14th, at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. The facility can hold over 40,000 people.

Werdum will be fighting for the first time since he submitted Cain Velasquez last June to become heavyweight champ. The two were scheduled to fight again last month, but a back injury forced Velasquez to withdraw.

Miocic quickly took out Andrei Arlovski in his last bout, which took place in January.

It looks like the back injury, which forced Cain Velasquez to withdraw from a scheduled bout with Fabricio Werdum on February 6th, has indeed pushed him back in the title shot line.

After Velasquez pulled out of the fight, Stipe Miocic was tapped as his replacement, until the heavyweight champ also announced he was withdrawing due to injuries. Since then, UFC President Dana White has stated Velasquez shouldn’t be sidelined long, but it appears as though the promotion’s moving forward with Werdum – Miocic.

Recently Globo’s Combate reported that the UFC is looking at booking that fight for a May 14th card in Brazil. The city is yet to be determined. Sources have also told MMA Junkie that the promotion is targeting that day for Werdum – Miocic as well.

The contender Miocic even smiled when he was asked about the report recently, when he spoke with the media at UFC Fight Night 82 last weekend.

Fabricio Werdum has been taking heavy fire from critics, following his decision to pull out of UFC 196, and the heavyweight champion has responded.

After Cain Velasquez was forced to drop out of a Februray 6th bout… Read More

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Fabricio Werdum (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Fabricio Werdum has been taking heavy fire from critics, following his decision to pull out of UFC 196, and the heavyweight champion has responded.

After Cain Velasquez was forced to drop out of a Februray 6th bout with Werdum, due to a back injury, the UFC announced that Stipe Miocic would be his replacement. Not long after, however, Werdum also announced he was pulling out of the card and cited a foot and back injury as why. The champion also said that he would have fought at UFC 196, however, if Velasquez had remained as the opponent.

The Brazilian star has received plenty of criticism for his decision, and recently, Werdum released a lengthy statement in response. Here is some of what he had to say (quote via MMA Fighting.com):

I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life not to fight Cain, Miocic or any other fighter because I had a back injury. Yet, at the same time I’m sad I wasn’t able to compete, I’m happy because I was able to see many things after this injury. I spent some time with my family, my wife and kids, and saw that everything is transitory.

Some people talked really bad about me, mean things, and other supported me as family and friends. I was thinking how cruel people can be when I was injured and I made a really important decision. The best decision I’ve ever made in my life. I’m criticized without suffering a defeat, and I imagined how it would be if I had fought for the fans, for the promotion, for anything, and suffered a defeat. But I didn’t suffer a defeat.

I decided not to fight because of my health, so I can recover and be 100 percent. Imagine if you’re remembered as that guy that suffered a severe injury, the guy that became paralyzed. Imagine that. How would people talk about me? Would those people care to know about me later, or only now that I’m the champion?

Werdum submitted Velasquez last June to become champion. The UFC has not announced yet what the promotion’s plans are in terms of who will challenge for the title next.

Fabricio Werdum announced he’s also withdrawing from UFC 196, after Stipe Miocic was asked to fight him on short notice, and the latter’s manager isn’t happy with the heavyweight champ.

On Sunday, the UFC confirmed that Cain Velasquez was pulling out his February 6th bout with Werdum due to a back injury, and that Miocic was taking his place. But, on Monday, Werdum said he was also withdrawing due to injuries. The champion also noted that he would have fought at UFC 196, however, if Velasquez hadn’t gone down.

Miocic’s manager, Greg Kalikas, was asked to comment on what has transpired, and here’s some of what he told MMA Fighting.com via text:

“We’re extremely disappointed to hear that Werdum is pulling out of the fight,”Kalikas said. “If he’s [Werdum is] healthy enough to defend against Cain, we can’t understand why he’s not healthy enough to fight Stipe, who would only have 12 days to prepare for him as it stands.